Improvement in apparatus for condensing quicksilver



vF. Hamm al. B.' BANDOL. Ap-paras for Condensing'uicksilver. No.153479lPatentedluly 28,1874..

f mcs s es NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

FERDINAND FIEDLER AND JAMES B. BANDOL, OF NEW ALMADEN, UAL.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING QUICKSILVER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.

`153,479, dated July 2s, 1874; application tied I May 20, 1874.

To all whom 'it may concern .Beit known that we, FERDINAND FIEDLER and JAMES B. BANDOL, of New Almaden, Santa Cla-ra county, State ofCalifornia, have invented an Improved Quicksilver-Goudenser5 and we dohereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings aresufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to whichit most nearly appertains to make and use our said invention orimprovement without further invention or experiment.

Our invention relates to an improved ta-nk or vessel for condensing thefumes of quicksilver after they have been taken from the retorts orfurnace in which they are produced. Our improvement consists inconstructing the condensing-tank of wood and glass, as hereinafterdescribed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification, Figure l is a perspective View of o ur furnace. Fig. 2 isa side sectional elevation. Fig. 3 is a view of a sash. Fig. et is ahorizontal section. Fig. 5 is a view showing the manner of securing thetransverse partitions.

A represents a tank or vessel in the form of a parallelogram, but anydesired outside form or size will answer. This tank or vessel weconstruct of wood, leaving numerous openings in its sides and ends,which are covered with windows, or panes, or plates of glass set in aframe. WVe prefer to construct an elongated box-shaped tank, as thisform is the most convenient, and presents a better window surface; butour invention can be carried out in a tank of almost any shape. Theopenings B, all ex cept those in immediate contact with the floor of thecondenser, are constructed in the following manner: A frame, L, isconstructed ot' a size large enough to receive the window-sash or platesof glass. The four outside edges of this frame are grooved, as at O, toreceive the planks which form the siding of the 'condenser, thusstrengthening the condenser, and preventing the planks from warping. Theupper rail of said frame has one or more openings, 1', leading from thegroove to the inside ofthe condenser, thus providing a roadway for thequicksilver which condenses on the inner side ot' the tank, and whichwill naturally follow down the wall and drop through said openl ings tothe floor of thetank. The inner edges of this frame have on their upperand side edges a flange, against which the windo w-sash, or plate, orpane of glass rests, and into the upper edge of the lower sill of theframe a groove, S, is cut, in which the window-sash sits. This groovehas one or more openings, t', similar and for the same purpose as theopenings c' above described. A crossbar, T, which is secured on one sideof the frame by an open mortise, and on the opposite side by a similarmortise, with the side ot' the frame beveled to make said bar slideeasily, fastens the window-sash in its place or any other suitablefastening can be used.

The frames which rest on the lioor ot' the condenser are constructed inthe same manner as those already described, with the exception that thelower rail or sill of the frame is lett out, and the window-sash restsdirectly on the floor of the condenser. The lower edge of the throughwhich the quicksilver condensed in the tank makes its exit into asuitable gutter, which conducts it to the receiving-tank. The floor ofthe tank is built on an incline, having its apex in the center of thesaine, and sloping to both sides an inclination which should not be lessthan two (2) inches to the foot. The tank is provided with interiorwooden partitions D D, which a-re so arranged as to provide alternateopenings or passages above and below, in the ordinary manner ofarranging the partitions ot' a condenser. The outside edges ofthepartitions and end sidings of the tank are fitted into upright groovedtimbers V, and it' tongue and grooved boards are used for forming thepartitions and ends ot' the tank, the rails which fasten them togetherare driven into the tongue of each plank and covered by the groove ofthe next or succeeding plank. The sides of the condensing-tank arefastened to the outer edge of the grooved timbers V, and the whole isbound together by stron g scantling W',placed vertically against thedifferent divisions or partitions outside otl the tank, and secured bymetallic rods or bolt-s e and nuts j'. The bolts or rods passtransversely across the tank from side to side through each partition,and are protected from the action ofthe fumes by a grooved timber,through sash is perforated with two or more openings,

which they pass, and which is covered again by the plank of thepartition. The rods which secure'the corner timbers pass along theontside of the ends of the tank. F is the inletpassage at one end, andthrough which the fumes enter the tank; and G, the outlet-passage at theopposite end, through which they may pass to another tank, or to theother condensing apparatus.

le have discovered that condensation of the mercurial fumes isaccelerated Where they Having thus described our invention, what Weclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A Wooden condensingtank, A, provided with windows, panes, or platesof glass B B, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination ofthe Windows, having perforated sash, with theframes of the condensing-chamber, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In the condensing-tank A, the bolts or rods e, which bind the wallstogether, concealed by passing them through in grooved timber, whichagain is covered by the partitions D D, for the purpose specified.

In Witness Whereoi` We hereunto set ourhands and seals.

FERDINAND FIEDLER. JAMES B. BANDOL. Witnesses:

W. M. DONNELL, RALPH LOWE.

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